It’s here!
Everyone is welcome to assist with setup on Friday from 1:30PM at Sturdivant Park in Coquille.
The schedule is filled with fun and food.
Even if you don’t have a Ham Radio License, you’re welcome to the party. You can experience “Getting on the Air” by doing so with one of our members.
My day began with a wakeup at 5:00 am ( I know others rose earlier but this is my story). After doing my morning routine I left my house in Coos Bay headed for the Powers County Park. I knew my other Ham at Eden Valley, Dan KI7IWX, was picking up our clipboard but I was supposed to pick up another one for Zach, K7FC, who had camped at Eden Valley the night before as he had one of the further out checkpoints to staff.
County park around 7 AM, give or take a few minutes. I met up with Jerry, KJ7EGZ, Sam, W7GNM and Gary, N6BLU (cue Hail to the Chief music!) After a short conversation I began to drive the 31 miles to the Eden Valley campground.
I personally had last been to the campground in 2017 and the road had been rough then. The years have not been kind to the asphalt but the truck was not bothered.
When I arrived at the campground, both Zach and Dan were there along with one of the SAG pick ups. The SAG driver had started a fire in one of the campground fire pits to have as a warming fire for the riders. We partook of it also to start the day right.
Since this was my first time assisting on the race everything was new. The enveloping tide of riders was met by us trying to get the numbers and reconciling our clipboards to keep track as best we could. The rest stop had been set up and offered a variety of snacks and drinks. The fire beckoned the cold, stiff riders who stayed there anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour. Folk style music emanated from a group of singers who serenaded us for a couple of hours.
The day was long but enjoyable. Drizzle and sun breaks swapped back and forth all day. I left about a half an hour before Dan as the last riders, herded by Gary N6BLU and a SAG truck.
After checking in at the Daphne Grove station and Net Control I made my way home after a satisfying day of volunteering service and “playing radio”!
Kelley W7FCM
The Club supported the Tour de Fronds with radio-assisted rider tracking. At one point Gary N6BLU, acting as a roving station, stopped to assist a rider who was having difficulty breathing. He called for rider assistance.
A sag wagon picked up the rider somewhere in the “Cruiser Crush” loop. The Myrtle Point ambulance arrived at Arrastra Saddle but ultimately, the rider refused transport and rode the wagon back to powers.
Zach gets the award for most weathered member, having operated his station from his motorcycle. The handheld radio is attached to the handlebars of his bike.
As a first-timer, I felt welcome and benefited from a ton of support. Thanks Chuck KN7FM for showing how all the tracking works and for helping with the Circus Tent.
In all, it was murky and cool all day, never getting warmer than 44F. The sun broke through very briefly three or four times. By the end, our boots were muddy and I was tired. Can’t imagine what it was like to ride all that way on a bicycle.
It was a blast.
Control cleared us to evacuate Arrastra Saddle at 17:00. Getting down the mountain behind the last few riders was slow. I left the rider records and clip boards with ‘net control, but wound up with the credentials.
As I rolled for home, radio traffic indicated that Gary was still following riders … still some 20 miles from Powers?
I hate to ask, but what time did you folks finally call a halt to operations?
Hurricane Erick Update for June 19, 2025
Hurricane Erick made landfall early Thursday morning, June 19, in southern Mexico as Category 3 storm with winds of 125 miles per hour (MPH). As of 600 AM CST Thursday (1200 UTC), the center of Hurricane Erick was located along the coast of Mexico just east of Punta Maldonado.
The Hurricane Watch Net noted that Erick is moving toward the northwest at close to 9 MPH and this general motion is expected to continue through tonight. On the forecast track, the center of Erick is expected to move inland over southern Mexico throughout the day. Erick is expected to rapidly weaken over the mountains of Mexico, and the system is likely to dissipate tonight or early Friday, June 20.
Given the proximity of this hurricane, Zian Julio Aguirre Taboada, XE1ATZ, Director of the National Emergency Network (RNE) of the Mexican Federation of Radio Experimenters (FMRE), has requested protection for the following emergency frequencies that will be used during the approach and pass of Hurricane Erick:
80-meter band: 3,960 kHz
40-meter band: 7,128 kHz
20-meter band: 14,120 kHz
Taboada is asking that all amateur radio operators refrain from transmitting on these frequencies and simply listen in case they need assistance from the FMRE.
— Per ARRL.com
Gary N6BLU has updated the Coos / Curry / Douglas county area repeaters list. It’s been added to “Get Connected.“
CCRC is always grateful for the use of repeaters that are owned and maintained by groups like SWORA. Members are encouraged to support these important organizations.
Should an error in any list or document be discovered, please inform the CCRC via Email — info @ coosradioclub.com.
Want to keep up with updates like this? Follow CCRC news via our blog “Currents” …
Club President Gary N6BLU edited and updated a list of Repeaters and HF nets of regional interest. The information has been added to our site here:
https://coosradioclub.com/connect
The web team is steadily working to bring important content up to date and then to publish it to the Club website.
Have ideas or notice that something is missing? Please help us out by emailing editor@coosradioclub.com
Comments are always welcome, as is News of interest to the Club.
From the Oregon ARRL Website…
Zach K7FC, shared the QRZ.Com forum post from Scott N7JI in Eugene.
Wildfire Heroes – Online Home of the Annual Wildfire Heroes Special Event Station, held the first full weekend of June | K7ETB
Club Trailer end of useful life.
In case these are helpful to you, GM…
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Coos County Radio Club